Stalock gets the start against Kings — and Dustin Brown says he understands why Sharks upset over hit he tried to avoid

SAN JOSE – No shortage of material to pass along today before the Sharks face off against the Los Angeles Kings. Reminder that it’s a rare 7 p.m. start, presumably because it’s a national game carried on NBCSports.

The Sharks are going with Alex Stalock in net and, initially at least, Todd McLellan is keeping Matt Nieto on a line with the two Joes, Thornton and Pavelski, while Brent Burns drops a notch to play alongside Patrick Marleau and Tommy Wingels.

More on all that in a minute.

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Those of us who cover the Sharks also got our first chance to talk with Kings captain Dustin Brown about the knee-on-knee hit that tore of Tomas Hertl’s knee on Dec. 19. That became the subject of the online story I filed earlier that you can read here .

Brown repeated the same point he made to the Kings web site shortly after the hit, that he had tried to avoid the contact and failed. But he also said he understood why the Sharks were riled about the play, acknowledging the reality of life in the NHL.

“There’s two sides to every story. They’re going to be upset,” Brown said. “If that was reversed, the Kings would have been upset. I don’t know how they would have handled it.”

The video shows that Brown did not go out of his way to make knee contact with Hertl; the question is whether he did enough to avoid the contact and he doesn’t waver on that point: He tried to avoid the hit and failed.

“I think everyone needs to realize the game is going pretty quickly and collisions are going to happen,” Brown said. “When someone gets hurt, it gets magnified. If he’s fine, are we even talking about this?”

Later he added: “Whenever a player gets hurt, it ruffles some feathers and that’s fine. That the nature of the beast — probably moreso with the Sharks because we have the rivalry of the playoffs.”

****Now, back to the more mundane topics. Like the decision to start Alex Stalock, who has pitched shutouts over the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets in his last two starts.

It marks the second time Stalock will be facing a top Western Conference team as he also was in net Jan. 5 for the 3-2 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in the United Center.

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Stalock agreed that it was maybe a little different when you face a team “you’re going to have to go through in the playoffs at some point” and McLellan said that was a factor in going with Stalock.

“He’s played in Chicago, he’ll now play against Los Angeles, he’ll get a chance to play against some of the other teams down the stretch we potentially could meet if we’re lucky enough to get to the playoffs,” McLellan said. “I think it’s important for the goaltenders to experience that a little bit in case you have to go there.”

Stalock did face the Kings in relief last season, facing six shots and allowing one goal in a 5-2 loss last March.

****McLellan talked about the decision to move Burns off the Thornton line in the middle of Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild and how things may play out tonight.

“It was a wakeup thing really, to tell you the truth,” McLellan said, noting the Sharks started strong then faded after giving up a goal to the Wild. “For the next 20, we were lethargic, we didn’t get much done. It was just time to shuffle things around a little bit. We also did it with the third and fourth lines, mixing guys in and out.

“We had gone quite awhile with lines that were familiar and you could feel it on the bench,” McLellan continued. “We were stale. Things weren’t going well so we had to shuffle it a little bit.

Then he concluded: “Where we go from here, I don’t know. We’ll start a certain way and we could be flipping back to where we’ve been, but we have a starting point anyhow.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

What’s staggering to me is that on nights like last night, there have been stretches where they’re the only ones getting real chances.

That said, it doesn’t seem like they’re getting all that much ice time to me. I’d estimate around 10-15%, but I’ll run the numbers if you’d like and compare their competition.

Also, why aren’t you counting Desjardins in that? (Remember — he’s a cyclops. Only one “i”.)

Phat Stat Phil

What the Sharks are almost certainly going to do is treat him like any other player. The organization has a good reputation and they’d rather avoid a Chicago situation.

What this likely means is talking to him, airing their frustration, and asking what they can do to make the most of his time in San Jose.

Players don’t like sitting in the press box. Havlat, almost certainly, is no exception, so they’re going to push him to perform to the standards of the team and treat him like any other asset.

They’re going to offer to get him the treatment and training he needs. They’re going to ask him to work hard. And if he’s not playing, then they’ll offer to find him a place to play.

I really, really don’t think that Havlat is going to be the organization’s first buy out.

Stevo

Someone call an ambulance… hockeynut just got creamed.

Buddy Elf

Yah, those who use absolutes like “NEVER” and “ALWAYS” ruin the discussion around here. That was my issue with his first post, and I agreed with how you responded to him so I didn’t respond… apparently he got all mad about it.

John Mango

Remenda interviews Jeff Carter pre-game and looks like a giddy school girl and concludes the interview by saying to Carter, “good luck.” The Sharks come out and get pushed around for 60 minutes in their own house and, more importantly, lose the game. Nobody responds to the Dustin Brown hit on Hertl with any form of physicality on Brown. Dustin Brown literally skates off the ice with a smirk on his face at the end of the 1st with his team up 1-0 and his person totally unscathed. Brown probably was thinking to himself, “I knew the Sharks would shrink away from any confrontation…I totally got away with it (the hit on Hertl).” Today I’ve got to say that I am not proud to be a Sharks fan.

Stevo

hockeynut & Brandon,

In your opinions, how exactly did having more hits help the Sharks win?

Stevo

I’m not sure that after really watching that game and seeing that one mistake was the entire difference, one can conclude that the Sharks were pushed around.

That was a relatively evenly pitched game. But I’ll give you this – the Kings dictated play much more than the Sharks did.

..which was why they won.

Beer League Rocks

Drew was working for nbcsn last night, not the sharks. Randy toned it down as well, like just saying four on four instead of his usual four on four play.

There was no time to go after Brown, the game was too tight.

Phat Stat Phil

It didn’t look to me like just a matter of looking for the perfect shot — but any shot at all. It seemed like the cycle was constantly pushing them into areas where the lane to get a puck to the net was getting increasingly small.

And with a team like the Kings which blocks a lot of shots and has some fast guys up front, you can get into a lot of trouble if a point shot doesn’t go the right way for you.

I found myself wondering if the Sharks had had a practice since the Minnesota game (they had) and if the coaches had a chance to adjust the offensive game to match that sort of coverage.

Phat Stat Phil

That would be pretty awesome. I like it. 8)

Beer League Rocks

Havlat does not need to play. He is most valuable in the press box where he can’t hurt himself. It’s worth sitting him to gain an extra 5 million in salary cap space next season, which won’t happen if he is injured during the small window that he can be bought out. If they thought he could help, he would have played by now.

Stevo

The guy can’t stay healthy. It’s almost to the point that it’s comical or conspiratorial. IMO.

Stevo

Phat Stat wrote:

And with a team like the Kings which blocks a lot of shots and has some
fast guys up front, you can get into a lot of trouble if a point shot
doesn’t go the right way for you.

No kidding. Just ask Burnzie.

John Mango

I hate the Ducks. However, I live in Hermosa Beach and see a lot of the Kings and Ducks by virtue of geography. Actually, I hate both (hate the Kings more). However, boy do I envy the Ducks young blue line. Cam Fowler looks good, but even more so, this kid Hampus Lindholm is special. He looks like a young, quick Nick Lidstrom. He’s 6’2″, skates like the wind and has a knack of getting shots through, just like Lidstrom. Perhaps my comparison is overly lofty, but I haven’t seen another young blue liner in the league that to me even looks close to this kid. Additionally, the Ducks have Scott Neidermayer working with their defenseman. As much as it pains me to say this, I fear that with Fowler and Lindholm, the Ducks are going to be good for a long, long time. Here’s to hoping that Mueller proves to be special as well.

Clemenza

Per the couple of late articles that came out, Wingels tried to get Dirty Dustin to drop ’em, but he declined….

#turtle

ppc

It helped them lose. You only get hits when you don’t possess the puck and the Sharks couldn’t possess the puck for beans last night.

John Mango

Thanks for the info. Didn’t know Tommy challenged him. Good to know. Still looked to me like Sharks got pushed around. And I understand Drew/Randy were on NBC, but “good luck,” really? “Thanks” is sufficient, but “good luck?” This is the team with the player who injured our young star, the player who expressed no concern for Hertl’s well being, the GM who defended the hit and showed no concern for Hertl, and Drew says, “Good luck”? This is just my opinion, but I don’t kiss the you know what’s of my adversaries, especially they hurt one of my own.

Beer League Rocks

I really like Wingels, he seems to me to be a really good third liner who can step up into a second line role when needed. It will be interesting to see how TMac shuffles guys around as the sharks get guys off IR.

ZEKE

well its 15% of ice time for the season — coming from guys who would have 0% if everyone was healthy.

Clemenza

I hear ya, man & totally agree. Having the national call for NBC I think was what the deal was. Drew had to show a little bit of impartiality otherwise he would have been labeled a homer….which he has around here…

Well, no kidding he favors the Sharks…he’s been associated with the team since the early days.

I was glad for them to get some national exposure. When I read other sites after games, the guys get a fair amount of accolades from opposing teams’ fans…& they weren’t tapped to do the play by play for NHL 2K9, 2K10, & 2K11 for no reason…

Clemenza

He’s definitely showing his worth. I love the energy he & Desi bring.

GP_hockeyhappens

Anyone recognize this argument: (and who it would have come from)

The “winning team here” shouldn’t be too happy with the effort. After all, they were playing against a backup goalie and almost half the team was AHL or lower level players.

GP_hockeyhappens

I don’t think you really understand the scenario. Since when is the color guy suppose to be the enforcer?

Besides, if you have watched enough hockey, you would know that opposing broadcasters respect the opposing team players and wish them luck all the time.

Lastly, even if being petty, Carter wars 77 not 23.

John Mango

Love Wingels. Heart and soul guy. Not a high draft pick. Had to work his butt off to get where he is. He’s also fast, a right shot, seems to be well liked by his teammates and he’s putting up very respectable numbers. In nature, there’s matter and there’s anti matter. In Sharks hockey, there’s Havlat and there’s anti Havlat. Wingels is anti Havlat, which in my book is a yet another compliment.

John Mango

You’re making an assumption about how much hockey I watch? Based on what foundation? I have the hockey package and NHL hockey is about all I watch on TV (I mix in some movies and and then). I love the sport. No offense taken to your assumption though. Bottom line, you were not offended by Drew’s interview, and I was to a certain extent. We had different subjective responses. You feel one way, I feel another. I respect your opinion, you may not respect mine. Enough said.

GP_hockeyhappens

Well, no assumptions were made actually. For some, it might take only one game to know what the broadcasters job really is. From my perspective, broadcasters aren’t going to dole out retribution in any way.

What if? Drew needs a job? Kings need a color guy? They make an offer. Drew accepts. How effective would Drew be if he had already burned a bridge with anyone on the Kings roster? Not very. Because, if you treat one player disrespectfully, others will take offence too, probably not just the heavy — Carter in this case.

And again, As much of douche Carter might be, He’s not DBrown.

So Drew was doing his job, interviewing someone that is normally the opposing team’s player on the National Network. What is offensive about that?

Did Drew disrespect the Sharks or anyone affiliated. (I have actually not seen the interview yet since I was at the game).

Now, I understand frustration that the Kings won the game and NBC didn’t get to interview a Sharks player. Maybe being offended about the interview was the wrong description?

renoshark

I hear ya but I don’t see DW sitting Havlat the rest of the year with the sole intention of buying him out. If he’s “healthy” and wants to play, and assuming he doesn’t get moved by the trade deadline, we kind of need him to play given our other injuries. Make no mistake, I want us to use our amnesty buyout on him but just don’t see him sitting the rest of the season.

That said, I think Marty will play vs the Oilers, or at least on this trip since it’s a back to back.

Marty can be an offensive threat to the other team. Case in point, last night IMO, not enough offensive threats that the Kings had to worry about. And I like the current L 3 & 4.

GP_hockeyhappens

Well, I couldn’t help it. Had to get it out of my system.

renoshark

The one and only Sgarbossa groupie on this board? 😉

GP_hockeyhappens

Yep! And I keep on hearing…more and more people are allergic. 😛

SactoShark

Its a ‘she” by the way, not a ‘he’

SactoShark

I have observed same,agree with some of your points

renoshark

I agree. I think given our injury situation and the big unknown on the status of Raffi, Burish and, to a lesser extent Hertl, we can ill afford to sit Havlat, especially down the stretch run.

Beer League Rocks

Sharks are 13-5 since Hertl was injured, 7-3 since Logan had his surgery. I have no idea how many, if any of those games Havlat has played in. If he has played in any of those games he didn’t do anything to make me remember that he was on the ice. Sharks are going to be getting players back either before or after the Olympic’s, I could care less if Marty ever plays another game for the Sharks. Hell, I wouldn’t even have him practice, he might rupture a nut just putting on his jock.

GP_hockeyhappens

Harsh! I like it! LOL!

renoshark

If the other guys get healthy and DW trades for a scoring winger, which I expect he will, then that will help. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of 9 though. Just sayin’. 🙂

philhockey22

Gad zukes.

Buddy Elf

His team was up 1-0 after the first?

Kopitar scored near the end of the 2nd.

philhockey22

So I hear you’re a puck bunny (you can blame SactoShark with that bit ‘o info). Anyway, I used goofus, because I wasn’t mad. I call people that all the time. Now, if you see me write %$#*-face or
stupid-@$*! or something akin to that…those are fighting words. But seeing as how this is a Sharks/sports board (aka time wasting and a procrastination facilitator) you’ll never see that. It’s supposed to be a place to revel in all things Shark! And I’ll try to refer to my Sharks encyclopedia the next time I make a comment. Now off to my hockey game…the sport that novices like me never play or even know about.

Beer League Rocks

If DW could send Havlat to the woo, I think he would let him ride the bus down there and collect his 5 million. He’s done it before with Kyle McLaren. CBA is different now, so it’s not an option. If he wasn’t healthy enough to play, why was he taken off of IR.

Alex

Also very little joking between the two, something they do quite a lot when they are on CSNCA.

SactoShark

Dude is this really your biggest worry?

BarryEisenberg

I Clueless Drew and Randy Haha? Worst announcers in the league, barely tolerable.

Buddy Elf

He sure wasn’t worried about getting facts straight.

Clemenza

Perhaps in the future you can offer up useful information instead of just making a feeble attempt at a dig…

Thanks.

sharks1989

That was a great team, had some big boys back then. Scott Parker was a beast.

Jeff M

Speaking of clueless… Your comment takes the cake!

Jeff M

I don’t see the point is playing Havlat now, or moving forward. He has proven time and time again that he can’t be relied upon.TMac put him on the 4th line because he had nowhere else to put him…and he was completely ineffective. Our 4th line bangs bodies, and we all know that Havlat is made of glass. IMHO its best to just eat the 5mil in cap space, OR find a non-playoff contender that has never heard of Havlat to trade with. How about Havlat for Hemsky??

Tom (fm Quinzee)

Any rest our older vets (read: Jumbo & Patty) can get is good. And it put it that way, because as to the best of my eyesight, TMac is still rolling 4 lines. To me the big question with these replacements (wasn’t that a movie?) isn’t how much scoring they generate (I need to emphasize “big question,” not “only question”) but are they an Achilles heel that costs us games. And from that perspective, they’re doing well. Your later 15% v. 0% puts that in perspective.